Family of Rotary - Paper Discovery Center Museum Canceled

 The Family of Rotary Committee is canceling the Paper Discovery Center Museum event on Thursday, June 7 and will reschedule at a later date.  

CREATING A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IN THE FOX VALLEY

Susan and John McFadden discussed how we are all aging together and there are challenges as well as opportunities we are facing as a result.  At the turn of the 20^th century, the average life expectancy for men and women was 47.  In the 21^st century, the age average life expectancy increased to 80.  Nationally, by the year 2030, approximately 1 out of 5 people will be 65 and older.  At the age of 65, 1 in 7-8 persons already have Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.  By age 72, about one third of us will have some form of measurable cognitive decline.  At age 85, up to one half of all people will have some form of dementia.  There is a critical shortage of geriatricians and geriatrics psychiatrists in this county.  There are also few potentially effective medications on the near horizon to slow the progress or prevent dementia.  Dementia is a progressive impairment in memory, cognitive and the ability to reason.  Alzheimer’s disease is a category within the term of Neurocognitive Disorder.  Changes in the brain happen before symptoms occur/show-up on an average of 2 years before the diagnosis of dementia.  What do you do after you have been diagnosed with dementia?  You may be prescribed with some pills to slow the progression but you may also find yourself excluded from your social networks.  When one is excluded there is physical and social pain.  People with chronic pain are more anxious about the commitment of social partners.  Higher levels of social support are associated with lower levels of chronic pain.  People with more physical pain tend to be more prone to hurt feelings about social exclusion. Three examples of how social engagement can have a measurable effect on the symptoms of dementia include therapeutic touch reduces restlessness and agitation, group exercise program slowed the decline in dementia and participation in a group cognitive stimulation improved cognitive test scores.  Memory Café’s are all about reducing social pain and improving the feeling of inclusion. They are a place where persons experiencing memory loss can share their experiences with one another.  The Nun Study of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease shows that nuns experience no form of dementia while alive.  Is it due to intellectual stimulation, diet, exercise, live for God and not themselves, their routine or their love and support from others?  In the UK, there is a joint initiative between members of various Rotary Clubs who have recognized the need for increased support in the community for families affected by dementia (REPoD – Rotary Easing the Problems of Dementia).  England has National Heathcare that includes paid respite professional care each week in the home and psychiatrist visits in the home.  There are Memory Café’s, Singing for the Brain, monthly tea dances and restaurant outings available with others with the diagnosis and those caring for them versus isolation and abandonment.  Social connections can slow the progression of the disease.  Each Memory Café has their own rituals such as the greeting, singing a song at the beginning and parting, snacks/tea, memory exercises, sticky darts, raffles that pay the cost of refreshments, etc.  Most people in England live within an easy reach of 2-3 Memory Café’s that meet every other week for about 2 hours.  Susan and John’s goal is to start 5 Memory Café’s in the Fox Valley.  They will be looking for volunteers and financial support. Singing is often still pleasurable and possible deep in dementia.  Many can still sing if they are accompanied by music.  In the Singing for the Brain programs, each member is greeted in song, refreshments are served and it is a social time.  Outings can also help to delay the progression of the disease.  The goal is to create a flourishing community in which all members, including those experiencing progressive memory loss, along with their care partners and friends, can enjoy rich, full and joyous lives.  More people in the U.S. turn 85 than are born each day.  We need to educate those who regularly interact with older people in how to practice patience and hospitality and offer inclusion hospitality to persons with memory loss in community organizations.  An educated community is one that no longer fears or stigmatizes dementia, whose institutions extend hospitality and inclusion to persons with dementia and has the capacity to provide a correct and early diagnosis that permit persons to make the nine affirmations.  1.  I was diagnosed early.  2.  I was diagnosed early so I can make good decisions and provide for future decision making.  3.  I can get treatment and support best for my dementia and my life.  4.  Those around me and looking after me are well supported.  5.  I am treated with dignity and respect.  6.  I know what I can do to help myself and who else can help me.  7.  I can enjoy life.  8.  I feel part of a community and I’m inspired to give something back.  9.  I am confident my end of life wishes will be respected.  I can expect a good death.  

Rotary Youth Exchange Student - Ella Proll

Ella Proll will be leaving to go back to Germany in 5 weeks.  She will finish her year at Appleton North High School then she will be going on a 2 week West Coast trip.  Ella said that this was the best year of her life so far.  This has been a great experience and she has met many great people.  She thanked the Club for sponsoring her, the RYE program, Robb Waugus (RYE Offficer) and her host families (the Werner;s, Berkedal’s and the Lathrop’s).

Youth Recognition Awards - Outstanding Juniors

The Youth Services and Education Awards Committee recognized 2 outstanding juniors from each of the five Appleton high schools.    The recipients of these awards were chosen by these schools to recognize students for their superior academic achievement, demonstrated leadership qualities, a striving for excellence, high ethical standards and service to others through involvement in school, church and community activities.  These students bring new meaning to the word “balance”.  They are athletes, musicians, writers, actors, leaders, community servants and of course students.   Congratulations to the following recipients:

Appleton East High School – Corey Otis

Jaffna Mathiaparanam

Joseph Benthein

Appleton North High School – Terry Werner

Naomi Roselaar

Whitney Shapiro

Appleton West High School – Sandra Barry

Hannah Johnshoy

Luke Curtis

Fox Valley Lutheran High School – Paul Hartwig

Megan Voss

Chase Maxwell

Xavier High School – Lori Schuh

Ali Baehler

Connor Pietzak

 Jaffna Mathiaparanam and Joseph Benthein

 Ali Baehler and Connor Pietrzak

 Naomi Roselaar and Whitney Shapiro

 Hannah Johnshoy and Luke Curtis

Megan Voss and Chase Maxwell

Thanks to the Youth Services and Education Awards Committee for arranging the Youth Recognition Award programs: Paul Hillmer (Co-Chair), Dan Schetter (Co-Chair), Al Archer, Bill Breider, Bret Buxton, Ralph DeMarco, Michelle Devine-Giese, Shane Lathrop, Chuck Lewis, Mark McGinnis and Jeff Werner.  A special thank you to Fox Valley Technical College, and staff members Shana Farrell and Roxanne Fasel, for their donation of printing services and materials.  Special thanks to “friend of Rotary” Autumn Grimm for layout and design.

Community Service Volunteer Opportunity

Good Garden Works – All Rotary project: June 11^th

Location: St Joseph Food Program: 1465 Opportunity Way   Menasha, WI.

Time: 5pm – 8pm

Up to 20 volunteers

The night will include: an informal veggie dinner (no cost) and burlap bag garden building and decoration.

This was one of the grants supported by the Community Service Committee.  Please check out this video about the program: http://video.wpt2.org/video/2050612134.There will be a sign up sheet at the next meeting.  

Courtesy Awards

Annually, the Courtesy Awards Committee receives many nominations for people who provide direct customer service above and beyond.  They also receive nominations that are vague and unclear.  Although they agreed originally that the name change could be beneficial for us in explaining better to the club that the award was for exceptional customer service, rather than ordinary everyday courtesy, they are inclined at this point to NOT change the name.  When we gave out the awards this year several things came to our attention to change our minds.  One - Bob Brunken's song that we sing each year, was most touching.  Also, the word “Courtesy" has such a nice, traditional ring to it.  Club members seem to love this award, and we would hate to disrupt that tradition.  The committee also decided to make monthly announcements and accept nomination forms throughout the year.  Forms can be found on our website – www.appletonrotary.org.

NATALIE GRATTAN’S TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND

Natalie is a native of Amboy, Washington.  She graduated from Lawrence University in 2010 majoring in biochemistry and music.  While at Lawrence, she became interested in SWAHP (Students Working Against Hunger and Poverty). The more active she became in SWAHP the more she realized she wanted to have a career that gave her the ability to work in the community such as public health.   She saw a flyer asking for students to attend an informational meeting about Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships. It was exactly what she was looking for.  The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship are to:  send ambassadors of goodwill to improve international understanding; instill a high degree of international understanding in all scholarships within the context of the high ideals which Rotary embodies; impart needed skills to scholarships, specially those from developing countries; and educate scholars from developed countries in a unique problems and challenges faced by developing countries.  Our club sponsored Natalie to go to the District 6220 and compete in the District competition.  Natalie was selected to attend the University of Otago in New Zealand.  Natalie learned about New Zealand, Rotary, public heath and the United States and herself.  New Zealand is a small country (267,000 square kilometers) with a population of about 4.5 million people.  The have a lot of sheep (about 30 million) and dairy cows (10 million).  The symbol of New Zealand is the silver fern.  The unfolding of the fern means new life and new beginnings.  There are many birds but no mammals except for bats.  They have a diverse geography:  white sand beaches, rocky mountains, geothermal activity and rain forests (bush).  They eat much of the same foods but spaghetti is served on toast.  Natalie’s host club was the Rotary Club of Dunedin East.  They were a fun and active club.  She attended Rotaract meetings, the District Conference, service projects and fundraising activities.  The U. S. is a market model of health care system, it is a mix of private-public system and the cost is $7,290 per capita.  New Zealand has a national health care system, a mixed public-private system, PHARMAC, ACC and costs $2,454 per capita.  Major health concerns such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse are the same in both countries.  So why the difference in cost?  Life expectancy, infant mortality, preventable hospital admission rates, AIDS incidence and MRI/CT exams are higher in the U.S.  The U. S. is also last in terms of efficiency, equity, safety, cost related problems and long healthy productive lives.   The more Natalie thought about this she decided to take a year off from going to medical school and work for AmeriCorps and the HealthCorps.  When she goes to medical school, Natalie will focus on preventative health.  

All Area Rotary Club Happy Hour 5-10-12

Thanks to those that attended the All Area Rotary Club Happy Hour on Thursday, May 10.  We had 13 members of our club attend.

Family of Rotary Event

Bring your favorite adult(s) to the Family of Rotary event at the:

Paper Discovery Museum

425 West Water Street

Appleton (next to Atlas Mill Coffee and Fratellos)

Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Munchee’s Pizza, salads, beverages and yummy deserts

Play on the Child’s View of Papermaking and learn how paper is made.  Make your own paper and visit the outdoor learning center.  Learn about the history of the paper industry, paper industry careers and much, much more.  Children attending will be sure to receive fun prizes.  It’s Appleton Downtown Rotary’s night at the museum and we have it all to ourselves. 

Sign up sheet will be at the Registration Table beginning June 15^th.  Please indicate the number of adults and children who will be attending so we’ll be sure to have enough food and prizes.

Please join us at the Paper Discovery Museum on Thursday, June 7^th for an evening of food, fun       and friends.  It’s a great opportunity for you to involve your family with your Rotary club.

VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRIC SERVICE TO HUMANITY (VOSH )

The Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity received a grant for $2,900 from the World Service Committee to help provide equipment to help people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti see clearly for the first time.  Mary Harp-Jirschele traveled with VOSH in January/February 2012.  The countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are separated by a 75 ft. river.  This year, their group consisted of 3 eye doctors, 4 opticians and 4 others who helped. The group traveled 6 hours by bus to get to their destination in Bonica.  They stopped half way to their destination in San Juan Maguana where Rotarians gave them soda, beer and a birthday cake for Mary’s sister.  Bonica has a population of about 1,200.  They set up shop in a run down hospital in the Dominican Republic since the government of Haiti would not let them in the country.  They slept in a dorm style cinder block structure that had showers and toilets attached.  Mosquito nets were over their beds and you had to watch what you ate and drank.  Each morning they would arrive at the clinic at 7:30 a.m. and 300 people would be lined up.  Haitians walked or rode on horseback, donkey or a beat up pick truck to the Dominican side to see one of the eye doctors.  Whole villages would come together.  Seeing people from both countries presented a challenge since no one spoke Creole.  Typically they only see adults but they do see children that have serious problems.  They brought about 3,000 pairs of used readers and regular glasses with them and 300 sunglasses which is important in warm weather climates.  Mary’s role was to do acuity checks that saved the eye doctors 12 minutes per person.  Mary saw 1,261 people during the time she was in the Dominican Republic.  The acuity check was easy for those who knew the alphabet but for those who did not Mary taught them the direction chart.  This could be a scary process since the people did not know what was going to do to them.  An elderly woman stood in line for 3 hours and Mary did her acuity check.  Mary took her to the refractor to take a picture of her eye.  The woman took off her clothes thinking that she was getting a mammogram.  Putting glasses on someone for the first time is very rewarding.  Leaves and grass look sharp versus looking like a cotton ball or matt.  Women can thread a needle and read.  People are taught to wear their glasses all the time and not just put them in their pockets.  They gave the people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic the gift of sight and showed them that someone in this world cares about them.  

2012 Scholarship Recipients

Scholarship candidates must be a 2012 graduate of one of these five Appleton high schools, (including traditional and nontraditional attendance – home schooling must be accredited), plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university, be in the upper 50% of his/her high school class and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 through December 31, 2011.  For the grant to continue to the grantee must remain a full-time student as defined by their college or university and maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale each semester.  The Scholarship Committee’s review team reviewed and scored the applications and then the interview team met with 6 candidates.  Denver Collins and Savoie were chosen to receive $5,000 scholarships - $1,666/year for the first three years of college.  Denver will be attending University of Minnesota – Twin Cities to major in business and French.  Noah will be attending U. W. Oshkosh where he will major in radio, TV and film and minor in Spanish.  

The Scholarship Committee also awarded U. W. Fox Valley Foundation and Fox Valley Technical College Foundation $2,122 each for nontraditional scholarships.  

Thanks to the Scholarship Committee for their work:  Jim Perry (Chair), Tonya Dedering, Nancy Johnshoy, Marta Weldon, Dennis Hieptas, Dennis Hultgren, Kevin Loomans, John Parker, Lynn Peters, Sridhar, Dan Denson and Dana Thorpe.

All Area Rotary Club Happy Hour

There will be an All Area Rotary Club Happy Hour on Thursday, May 10 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Waverly Beach.

Youth Recognition Awards - Outstanding Seniors

Today, the Youth Services and Education Awards Committee recognized 2 outstanding seniors from each of the five Appleton high schools.    The recipients of these awards were chosen by these schools to recognize students for their superior academic achievement, demonstrated leadership qualities, a striving for excellence, high ethical standards and service to others through involvement in school, church and community activities.  These students bring new meaning to the word “balance”.  They are athletes, musicians, writers, actors, leaders, community servants and of course students.   Congratulations to the following recipients:

Appleton East – Elissa Hoffman

Mackenzie Harrmann

Bradley Morgen

Appleton North – Therese Helein

Jenny Jones

Hannah Szabo

Appleton West – Mary Straumfjord

Trevor Schmitz

Carley Tschanz

Fox Valley Lutheran High School – Part Hartwig

Deanna Mose

David Sehloff

Xavier High School – Matt Renebeau

Christian Carroll

Emily Fox

Thanks to the Youth Services and Education Awards Committee for arranging the Youth Recognition Award programs: Paul Hillmer (Co-Chair), Dan Schetter (Co-Chair), Al Archer, Bill Breider, Bret Buxton, Ralph DeMarco, Michelle Devine-Giese, Shane Lathrop, Chuck Lewis, Mark McGinnis and Jeff Werner.  A special thank you to Fox Valley Technical College, and staff members Shana Farrell and Roxanne Fasel, for their donation of printing services and materials.  Special thanks to “friend of Rotary” Autumn Grimm for layout and design.

David Sehloff and Deanna Mose  

Carly Tshanz and Trevor Schmitz

Jenny Jones and Hannah Szabo

Christian Carroll and Emily Fox

Mackenzie Harrmann and Bradley Morgan

RYE STUDENT APRIL REPORT - ELLA PROLL

This month was really exciting, but the time went by so fast and it makes me realize that I have only eight weeks left until I go back to Germany.

At the end of March my parents came to Appleton to meet my host families, visit my school and see the place where I lived the last eight months. After spending three days in Appleton my parents traveled with me for two weeks thru the north-east of the USA. We visited Chicago, Cleveland, The Niagara Falls, Washington DC., Philadelphia and New York. We had a great time and after visiting New York my parents went back to Germany and I came back home to Appleton.

One Day after I came back I moved to my third host family, the Lathrops. I really enjoy staying with my new host family and their two dogs.  Last weekend I went to an International Dinner to Waupaca, and stayed with a couple other exchange students up there for the weekend. We had a great time by visiting the Waupaca High School and attending the International Dinner.

I am looking forward to my last two month in Appleton and everything I will do the next weeks.